12 



rather short. They are fairly hardy, but are only moderate layers 

 of medium-sized brown ecjgs. They are good sitters and mothers. 

 Crossed with Dorkings, Rocks, or Wyandottes, they make excellent 

 fowls for the market. These crosses are, however, seldom good 

 layers. 



Standard weight : Cock, 9 lbs ; hen, 6| lbs.; cockerel, 7| lbs.; 

 pullet, 5J lbs. 



Dorkings. There are several varieties of this breed, the most 

 popular being the Silver Grey and colored varieties. Birds of this 

 breed are among the best market fowls yet produced, and they are 

 fair layers of good-sized, white eggs. They are fair sitters and 

 mothers. They have white legs, white skin, and five toes. 



The fault of this breed in Ontario is that they do not do well in 

 confinement, and are not considered hardy. With some farmers, 

 however, they are very popular. 



Standard weight of Silver Grey variety: Cock, 8 lbs.; hen, 

 G^ lbs. ; cockerel, 7 lbs. ; pullet, 5| lbs. 



EGG PRODUCTION. 



To produce eggs in winter time, we have to consider the stock, 

 the quarters or housing, the feed, and the weather. 



Stock. The stock needs to be the best obtainable. An ideal bird 

 for winter egg production is a pullet that is mature at about Nov. 1st, 

 and is strong and vigorous, and of a good laying strain. Something 

 depends upon the breed, but more on the strain of the breed ; also 

 much upon a good strong constitution, and an abundance of vigor. 

 These are the essential points. 



To get pullets of such birds as Rocks, Wyandottes and Orping- 

 tons matured by November, it is necessary to hatch them in April. 

 Some seasons May chicks mature quirikly and begin laying about the 

 first of December, but not as a rule. If a pullet does not commence 

 to lay before Christmas, it is doubtful if she will begin much before 

 March, unless the weather is favorable. Then again, good yearling 

 hens that have moulted early are likely layers. The problem, how to 

 get hens to moult early, is not entirely solved as yet. No doubt it 

 has been noticed that hens which sit and bring out a brood of chicks 

 from June 10th to July, usually moult about the time they are leav- 

 ing their chicks. Some hens that sit earlier also moult early ; but as 

 a rule they begin to lay after sitting, and are rather inclined to late 

 moulting, 



From the above, it would appear that the best method to get the 

 flock in general to moult would be to place the flock under conditions 

 similar to those of the sitting hen. This is done by some egg-farmers 

 with more or less success. The plan followed is to change the hens to 



